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Child Welfare Outcomes 2000: Annual Report
Chapter IV - State Data

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment
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Wisconsin [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population

1998

1999

2000

Total children under 18 years

1,351,044

1,348,268

1,368,756

Race/ethnicity (%)1

 Alaska Native/American Indian

1.2

1.2

1.1

 Asian/Pacific Islander

2.5

2.6

2.6

 Black

7.9

7.9

8.3

 Hispanic

4.0

4.2

5.5

 White

84.3

84.1

80.4

 Two or more races

N/A

N/A

2.0

 Other

N/A

N/A

0.1

% Child population in poverty

13.5

9.3

13.7

% Child population living in metropolitan areas

74.2

72.4

68.5

 

Child Welfare

1998

1999

2000

Child maltreatment victims

8,168

9,791

12,001

Children in foster care on 9/30

10,076

9,637

10,148

Children adopted

643

642

736

1) The 2000 Census of the United States includes two new race catagories: (1) Persons of two or more races and (2) Other. Back

 

B. Child Maltreatment Data (NCANDS)

 

Number

Rate

Maltreatment Information Overview

1998

1999

2000

1998

1998

2000

Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment

22,232

34,311

37,455

16.5 per 1,000

25.4 per 1,000

27.4 per 1,000

Child maltreatment victims2

8,168

9,791

12,001

6.0 per 1,000

7.3 per 1,000

8.8 per 1,000

Child fatalities

11

9

10

0.8 per 100,000

0.7 per 100,000

0.7 per 100,000

 

Age of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Under 1 year

4.0

5.8

5.6

1-5 years

23.8

24.9

24.7

6-10 years

24.4

27.6

26.1

11-15 years

25.5

34.2

35.1

16+ years

7.6

7.3

8.0

Unknown

14.7

0.1

0.5

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

8,168

9,791

12,001

 

Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

2.7

3.0

2.8

Asian/Pacific Islander

1.9

2.0

2.1

Black

22.8

30.0

18.9

Hispanic

4.7

5.4

5.2

White

52.1

58.5

70.0

Two or more races

N/A

N/A

-

Other/Unknown

20.5

6.5

1.0

Total %3

104.7

105.4

100.0

Number

8,168

9,791

12,001

 

Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Emotional abuse

0.9

0.7

0.4

Medical neglect

0.7

-

0.6

Neglect

37.6

42.2

27.8

Physical abuse

22.4

21.9

15.3

Sexual abuse

27.3

37.9

40.1

Other

14.6

23.2

20.5

Unknown

-

-

-

Total %4

103.6

125.8

104.7

Number

8,168

9,791

12,001

2) Children with more than one report of substantiated or indicated maltreatment may be counted more than once. Back
3) Percentages may total more than 100 percent because Hispanics may be counted both by Hispanic ethnicity and by race. Back
4) Percentages may total more than 100 percent because children could have been victims of more than one type of maltreatment. Back

C. Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)

Number of Children

In Care on 10/1

Entered Care

Exited Care

In Care on 9/30

Total Served

FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98)

9,356

5,566

4,746

10,076

14,922

FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99)

8,945

6,015

5,323

9,637

14,960

FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00)

9,869

4,645

4,366

10,148

14,514

Median Length of Stay (Months)

 

 

 

 

 

FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98)

19.1

N/A

5.4

23.9

N/A

FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99)

19.3

N/A

5.9

20.8

N/A

FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00)

19.0

N/A

6.5

25.0

N/A

 

Age of Children in Foster Care (%)

In Care on 10/1/97

In Care on 10/1/98

In Care on 10/1/99

Entered Care During FY 1998

Entered Care During FY 1999

Entered Care During FY 2000

Exited Care During FY 1998

Exited Care During FY 1999

Exited Care During FY 2000

In Care on 9/30/98

In Care on 9/30/99

In Care on 9/30/00

Under 1 year

2.5

2.4

3.0

7.3

8.0

8.3

3.0

2.4

3.2

2.0

2.7

1.4

1-5 years

24.1

23.6

22.7

16.2

18.5

17.5

17.7

17.1

17.4

21.1

21.5

21.5

6-10 years

26.0

27.7

27.7

16.9

17.1

17.7

16.8

17.8

18.6

25.6

27.0

25.9

11-15 years

29.3

31.1

31.1

42.1

41.1

41.0

33.9

34.3

33.0

30.6

32.4

32.2

16-18 years

16.5

14.9

15.2

17.4

15.3

15.4

28.3

28.0

27.6

17.7

15.7

17.1

19+ years

1.5

0.2

0.4

-

0.1

0.0

0.4

0.5

0.2

2.5

0.5

1.8

Unknown

0.2

0.0

0.0

-

0.0

0.0

-

0.0

-

0.6

0.1

0.1

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

9,356

8,945

9,869

5,566

6,015

4,645

4,846

5,323

4,366

10,076

9,637

10,148

 

Race/Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care (%)5

In Care on 10/1/97

In Care on 10/1/98

In Care on 10/1/99

Entered Care During FY 1998

Entered Care During FY 1999

Entered Care During FY 2000

Exited Care During FY 1998

Exited Care During FY 1999

Exited Care During FY 2000

In Care on 9/30/98

In Care on 9/30/99

In Care on 9/30/00

Alaska Native/American Indian

3.3

3.4

3.0

5.1

4.0

4.2

5.2

4.5

5.1

3.4

3.2

2.7

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.9

1.2

1.0

3.2

2.4

2.6

2.3

2.6

2.9

1.5

1.2

0.9

Black

50.1

49.0

52.8

20.6

25.5

23.3

20.3

21.3

19.7

48.1

49.6

53.5

Hispanic

4.4

4.4

4.7

3.5

5.0

4.6

3.3

3.8

3.8

4.4

5.1

5.0

White

41.4

42.0

38.2

67.6

62.9

63.9

68.9

67.9

67.5

42.6

40.8

37.4

Two or more races

-

-

0.3

-

0.1

1.5

-

-

1.1

-

0.1

0.5

Unknown

-

-

0.0

-

0.0

0.0

-

-

-

-

0.0

0.0

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

9,356

8,945

9,869

5,566

6,015

4,645

4,846

5,323

4,366

10,076

9,637

10,148

 

5) In this and subsequent race/ethnicity tables, data for two or more races may be provided for 1998 and 1999 because of States' resubmissions. However, data for 1998 and 1999 may not capture all children of two or more races and therefore may not be comparable to the 2000 data pertaining to two or more races. Back

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D. Children Waiting to Be Adopted
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)6

 

Overview

9/30/98

9/30/99

9/30/00

Children waiting to be adopted

865

902

969

Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR)

606

658

703

 

Age of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Under 1 year

1.7

3.0

2.1

1-5 years

31.1

26.9

28.4

6-10 years

35.4

35.4

34.3

11-15 years

24.2

27.1

27.8

16+ years

5.7

6.9

5.4

Unknown

2.0

0.8

2.2

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

865

902

969

 

Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

7.1

6.5

4.3

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.2

1.0

0.8

Black

33.3

34.7

35.8

Hispanic

3.7

3.9

5.5

White

55.7

53.7

51.5

Two or more races

-

0.2

2.0

Unknown

-

-

0.1

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

865

902

969

6) Waiting children are children who have a goal of adoption and/or whose parentsÂ’ rights have been terminated. Children 16 years and older with TPR, but with a goal of emancipation, have been excluded from the waiting children and TPR populations. Back

E. Children Adopted
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)

 

Age of Adopted Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Under 1 year

0.6

2.3

2.7

1-5 years

42.8

41.0

42.1

6-10 years

37.6

40.0

36.5

11-15 years

16.0

13.6

16.8

16+ years

3.0

3.1

1.8

Unknown

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

643

642

736

 

Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

5.0

5.0

4.9

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.3

-

1.0

Black

47.6

41.7

38.5

Hispanic

5.0

6.1

6.5

White

42.1

47.2

47.8

Two or more races

-

-

1.2

Unknown

-

-

0.1

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

643

642

736

 

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Wisconsin [ Outcomes Data ]

 

1. Reduce Recurrence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect
(NCANDS)

1.1 Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 6 Months (%)

1998

1999

2000

Children without a recurrence

-

-

-

Children with one or more recurrences

-

-

-

Total %

-

-

-

Number

-

-

-

 

2. Reduce the Incidence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect in Foster Care
(NCANDS, AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database Jan —Sept)

2.1 Maltreatment in Foster Care (%)

1998

1999

2000

Children maltreated while in foster care

-

-

-

Children not maltreated while in foster care

-

-

-

Total %

-

-

-

Number

-

-

-

 

3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)

3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%)

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

10.8

11.1

14.8

Guardianship

-

-

-

Reunification

67.5

66.1

63.2

Other

21.7

22.8

22.0

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

4,846

5,23

4,366

 

Pie Charts describing data from Table 3.1 above.

 

3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

23.7

24.0

31.0

Guardianship

-

-

-

Reunification

51.7

51.3

44.6

Other

24.6

24.7

24.4

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

1,650

1,735

1,565

 

3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%)

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

0.4

0.6

0.7

Guardianship

-

-

-

Reunification

64.9

63.6

63.4

Other

34.7

35.9

35.9

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

2,388

2,626

2,073

 

3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%)

1998

1999

2000

Children age 12 or younger at entry

16.4

15.0

13.8

Children older than 12 at entry

83.6

85.0

86.2

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

268

274

217

 

3.5 Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)

Alaska Native/A.I.

Asian/P.I.

Black

Hispanic

 

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

13.0

11.8

15.4

0.9

-

5.5

22.4

20.7

28.9

12.6

17.7

22.9

Guardianship

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Reunification

62.5

65.4

65.2

76.8

73.9

67.7

58.5

57.6

51.0

67.9

60.1

57.2

Other

24.5

22.8

19.5

22.3

26.1

26.8

19.1

21.6

20.0

19.5

22.2

19.9

Missing data

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

253

237

221

112

138

127

982

1,133

858

159

203

166

 

White

Unable to Determine

Two or More Races

Missing Data

 

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

7.5

8.0

10.5

-

-

-

-

-

14.3

-

-

-

Guardianship

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Reunification

70.3

68.9

66.6

-

-

-

-

-

73.5

-

-

-

Other

22.3

23.1

22.9

-

-

-

-

-

12.2

-

-

-

Missing data

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

-

-

-

-

-

100.0

-

-

-

Number

3,340

3,612

2,945

-

-

-

-

-

49

-

-

-

 

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4. Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing Re-entry
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)

4.1 Time to Reunification (%)

1998

1999

2000

Less than 12 mos.

79.3

77.1

80.0

At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.

13.5

13.7

13.0

At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.

3.6

4.5

4.4

At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.

1.4

1.9

1.1

48 or more mos.

1.5

2.7

1.2

Missing data

0.6

0.2

0.3

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

3,273

3,521

2,760

 

Bar chart describing reunification percentages data in Table 4.1 above.

 

4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%)

1998

1999

2000

Children entering care for the first time

68.5

69.0

75.2

Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode

25.1

24.3

17.7

Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode

6.4

6.7

7.1

Missing data

-

-

-

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

5,566

6,015

4,645

 

Bar chart describing re-entries into Foster Care within 12 months from data in Table 4.2 above.

 

5. Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)

5.1 Time to Adoption (%)

1998

1999

2000

Less than 12 mos.

5.2

6.6

7.1

At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.

15.9

11.5

16.9

At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.

18.5

20.7

23.1

At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.

26.0

22.6

16.9

48 or more mos.

34.4

38.5

35.9

Missing data

-

-

-

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

523

589

644

 

Bar Chart describing Percentage of Adoptions Occurring in Less Than 24 or greater than 48 Months of Entry data from Table 5.1 above

 

6. Increase Placement Stability
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)

6.1 Number of Placements by Time in Care (%)

Year

Children With 2 or Fewer Placements

Children With 3 or More Placements

Missing Data

Total %

Number

Less than 12 mos.

1998
1999
2000

94.9
95.3
95.2

5.1
4.7
4.8

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

6,403
6,961
5,503

At least 12 mos., but <24 mos.

1998
1999
2000

83.3
83.0
84.7

16.7
17.0
15.3

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

2,650
2,586
2,912

At least 24 mos., but <36 mos.

1998
1999
2000

73.6
72.6
75.1

26.4
27.4
24.9

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

1,965
1,701
2,058

At least 36 mos., but <48 mos.

1998
1999
2000

69.8
61.8
67.4

30.2
38.2
32.6

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

1,210
1,241
1,222

48 or more mos.

1998
1999
2000

70.3
64.0
59.8

29.6
36.0
40.2

0.1
0.0
0.0

100.0
100.0
100.0

2,649
2,432
2,808

Missing data

1998
1999
2000

100.0
100.0
100.0

-
-
-

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

45
39
11

 

Bar chart describing foster care placements over time percentages data from Table 6.1 above.

 

7. Reduce Placements of Young Children in Group Homes or Institutions
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)

7.1 Most Recent Placement Settings of Children Who Entered Care During the Fiscal Year and Were Age 12 or Younger at the Time of This Placement (%)

1998

1999

2000

Group homes

5.2

5.0

3.0

Institutions

5.4

3.6

4.2

Other settings

89.4

91.4

92.9

Missing data

-

-

-

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

2,725

3,042

2,382

 

Wisconsin [ State Comment ]

Susan N. Dreyfus, Administrator
Division of Children and Family Services
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
608-267-3905

The Wisconsin child welfare program is primarily county-operated except for the special needs adoption program and child welfare services in Milwaukee County, which are operated by DCFS. The State is currently implementing a new SACWIS system called WiSACWIS, however, the data in this report are primarily from legacy systems.

Child maltreatment reporting in Wisconsin includes both caregivers and non-caregivers and Wisconsin currently reports using the SDC format. The child maltreatment data shown for 1998 to 2000 is not complete due to the timing of the NCANDS data submission. Child maltreatment reports are submitted to the State by county agencies and the processing and compilation of maltreatment data for the prior calendar year is not complete by the due date of the annual NCANDS report. Maltreatment information will be collected more timely in WiSACWIS. The complete maltreatment information for Wisconsin is:

 

CY1998

CY1999

CY2000

Reports

42,520

40,188

38,116

Child Victims

14,154

11,646

12,109

Child Fatalities

13

11

10

 

The legacy systems do not permit computation of recurrence of maltreatment or maltreatment of children in foster care. Measurement of both of these outcomes will be possible as the WiSACWIS system is implemented Statewide.

For foster care, the reduction in case load between FY 1998 and FY 1999 reflects preparation during 1999 for WiSACWIS, which purged old case data for Milwaukee County. The population served includes children who were placed due to voluntary placement agreements, maltreatment, status offenses, and delinquent behaviors. The "Other" reasons for exit include reaching age of majority and transfer to a correctional or mental health institution. Wisconsin uses guardianship as a permanency outcome, but data are not captured in the legacy system showing exits to guardianship.

The adoption data show the total number of finalized adoptions for children with special needs for whom the adoptive parents received Adoption Assistance. Some exits to adoption may not be reflected in the foster care data due to the transition to WiSACWIS in Milwaukee. In addition, some children were adopted from outside of the foster care system.

 

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